Haryana is witnessing a steep rise in the number of people suffering from HIV – a retrovirus that attacks your body’s immune system – a trend that officials have attributed to increased testing across the state. The human immunodeficiency virus weakens your body’s ability to fight infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infections and serious bacterial infections. There is no cure for HIV, but it can be treated with medicines.

According to data from the Union Health Ministry and the National AIDS Control Organisation, Haryana has over 50,000 people living with HIV since 2019. The number was 50,604 in 2019 and rose to 56,578 by 2023, marking an 11 per cent increase in four years. The data shows a steady annual increase, with 51,840 cases in 2020, 53,115 in 2021 and 54,547 in 2022.

The health department says Gurgaon – one of South Asia’s largest office hubs – has reported the highest number of cases in 2021 with 201 cases, taking the total to 1,491 so far this year. Officials suggest the rise may be linked to increased testing, which has more than doubled from the 30,571 tests conducted in 2020 to 64,043 this year.

What measures have been taken by the health department to prevent infection?

According to news reports, health department officials say they have implemented several measures – apart from increasing testing among high-risk populations, including awareness campaigns to prevent the spread of HIV. “The most affected demographic is between the ages of 22 and 43. Men account for 56% of the cases, while women and children account for 40%. The remaining cases are linked to transgender individuals. High-risk sexual behaviour and tattoo exposure are the primary modes of infection,” the Times of India quoted an official as saying.

Moreover, provision of affordable medical treatment is being highlighted as a key step in the fight against the growing menace. To curb the spread of the virus, authorities have emphasised the importance of practicing safe sex, avoiding needle sharing and getting tested regularly. “We are focusing our testing efforts among jails, slums, transgender individuals and truck drivers to identify and treat HIV positive people,” said Virendra Yadav, Gurgaon’s chief medical officer.

Last year, 305 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in Haryana, which is a rate of 1.02 per lakh of the state’s population. The mortality rate per lakh was 4.1 percent in 2019, 2.2 percent in 2020, 2 percent in 2021 and 1.4 percent in 2022.

Why is it important to curb HIV?,

According to experts, HIV – which causes AIDS in the final and most severe stage of infection – is a serious condition. People with AIDS have very low numbers of certain white blood cells and their immune system is severely damaged. They may develop additional illnesses that indicate they have progressed to AIDS.

Without treatment, HIV infection progresses to AIDS in about 10 years.

AIDS causes problems such as rapid weight loss, extreme fatigue, sores in the mouth or genitals, fever, night sweats, and pale skin. People with AIDS often also have other diseases and cancers, and these can cause additional symptoms.

Who does HIV affect?

Experts say it’s a big myth that HIV only infects certain people — and anyone can become infected with the virus if they become infected through having sex without a condom or sharing needles to inject drugs. Some populations are statistically more affected by HIV than others, including:

• People who identify themselves as gay, bisexual, or homosexual
• certain races, such as blacks and Hispanics
• people who exchange sex for money or other goods

While these are not the only populations affected by HIV, according to doctors, it is extremely important to consider that they face unique barriers to accessing preventive care, getting tested, and receiving comprehensive treatment. Homophobia, racism, poverty, and social stigma around HIV exacerbate disparities and prevent people from accessing high-quality healthcare.

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